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Check FAQAbout Laís
Laís Martins is a journalist based in São Paulo, Brazil.
Spanish
Portuguese
Portfolio
Gig workers on delivery apps rent accounts to get around bans
Gig workers in Brazil and Mexico are renting accounts on delivery platforms like iFood, Uber, and DiDi to bypass bans and increase their income. Despite explicit bans on account sharing, up to 30% of gig workers in Mexico may be using rented accounts. Rising fuel costs, oversupply of workers, and platform bans contribute to this trend. Platforms have implemented ID verification measures, but workers find ways around them. Renting accounts leaves workers vulnerable to scams and without insurance. Labor rights organizations highlight the lack of support and stability for gig workers.
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Brazil’s delivery leader opened a facility for assaulted workers. No one’s shown up
iFood, Brazil's leading food delivery company, opened a facility in Rio de Janeiro to support assaulted delivery workers, but it remains unused due to its remote location. Despite a high number of reported attacks, workers find the center difficult to access and prefer in-app support. The company has launched awareness campaigns and partnered with Black Sisters in Law for legal and psychological aid, but workers and experts argue that more accessible and widespread measures are needed. The article underscores the systemic issues of discrimination and exploitation faced by gig workers in Brazil.
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Rappi drivers say a public defender’s office for gig workers is useless, not neutral
Rappi delivery workers in Colombia express dissatisfaction with the Defensoría al Repartidor (DAR), an ombudsman service meant to protect their interests. They argue that the DAR is ineffective and too closely aligned with Rappi, undermining its impartiality. Despite initial successes, many workers have unresolved issues and fear reprisals for using the service. The DAR was established following negotiations between Rappi and the union Unidapp, but skepticism remains about its autonomy. The article highlights broader concerns about labor rights and corporate accountability in the gig economy, amid ongoing political and regulatory scrutiny in Colombia.
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China: The world’s shopping cart
China has evolved from being the world's factory to becoming a global shopping hub, with new e-commerce companies like Shein, Temu, and TikTok Shop targeting international customers. These platforms offer ultra-low prices, reshaping online shopping and attracting scrutiny from governments concerned about local businesses and supply chain integrity. Despite this, the Chinese e-commerce sector continues to grow, aiming to build global brands and business models. Rest of World explores this transformation through interviews with Chinese factory owners, visits to international markets, and insights into the new era of e-commerce.
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Cosmetics resale in Brazil: The Uber driver running a beauty store from his car
Renan Gimenez, an Uber driver in São Paulo, Brazil, also resells perfumes and cosmetics from his car, effectively turning it into a mobile shop. He started this side business eight years ago and has honed his sales skills over time, claiming an 80% success rate in sales pitches. Although he faced a temporary ban from Uber due to a passenger's complaint, he has continued to thrive, selling to passengers and workers at various establishments. His dual income from Uber and cosmetics sales has allowed him financial flexibility and more time with his family.
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Unleash the bololô: Masses of delivery workers set off horns and fireworks at bad customers’ homes
Delivery workers in Brazil have adopted 'bololô' protests, involving revving bikes, honking, and fireworks, to respond to physical threats and racist attacks from customers. These spontaneous protests, organized through WhatsApp groups, aim to draw attention to the workers' plight and ensure their safety. While some organizations like the Federal District Association for App Workers and Motorcyclists (ATAM-DF) provide legal support, they do not officially endorse the protests due to the potential inconvenience to neighbors. Companies like Rappi and iFood have stated their positions on worker safety and support, with mixed responses from the workers themselves.
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Ketosis and migraine: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis
Headache is a prevalent disorder, significantly impacting quality of life, particularly in children and adolescents. Migraine, a primary headache disorder, affects around 15% of the general population and is often linked to genetic factors. Current migraine treatments have limited efficacy and tolerability, prompting interest in non-pharmacologic approaches like ketogenic diets (KDT). This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of KDT in preventing migraines. The review includes 10 studies, mostly conducted on adults, using various ketogenic dietary interventions. Results suggest that KDT can reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks, although the correlation between ketosis levels and migraine relief remains unclear. The studies report good tolerability of KDT, despite some common side effects and a notable dropout rate due to dietary compliance challenges. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings and explore the optimal use of KDT in different populations.
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Phone thieves in Brazil have an easy target: Gig workers
Gig workers in São Paulo, Brazil, face significant risks of phone theft, which directly impacts their ability to work and earn a living. The article highlights personal stories of Uber drivers and other gig workers who have been mugged, emphasizing the lack of support from gig economy platforms like Uber, iFood, and Rappi. Despite the high rate of phone thefts, specific data on how many gig workers are affected is unavailable. Workers have resorted to various personal safety measures and informal support networks to cope with the threats, as institutional support remains inadequate.
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Clickwork in Brazil: A mom balancing endless gigs with childcare
Sônia Coêlho, a 45-year-old microworker from Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, balances extensive gig work with childcare. She works on platforms like Amazon Mechanical Turk and Appen, performing repetitive tasks for minimal pay. Despite working 10-12 hours daily, her income has significantly decreased over the years. Coêlho, who stumbled upon microwork after losing her job, now relies on it as her sole income source. She aspires to complete her law degree and potentially advocate for better regulations for online platform workers in Brazil.
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Brazil’s politicians, unions, and workers can’t agree on how to protect gig labor
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's efforts to regulate gig work have faced significant challenges, leading to the disbandment of a working group aimed at creating new industry rules. The lack of consensus among labor groups, gig platforms, and workers has stalled progress, with key issues like pay and work conditions remaining unresolved. The dominance of iFood in the food delivery sector and differing priorities among workers have further complicated negotiations. The government's labor ministry is expected to present a bill to Congress, but skepticism remains about its effectiveness in protecting gig workers' rights.
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Underage gig workers keep outsmarting facial recognition
In Brazil, underage workers are circumventing facial recognition technology to work for delivery platforms like iFood and Rappi, despite legal restrictions. Both companies have implemented technological safeguards and rely on customer and restaurant reports to identify minors, but these measures have proven insufficient. The article highlights the societal normalization of child labor and calls for comprehensive solutions, including government assistance programs and better enforcement of labor laws.
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Come downstairs or we’ll eat your order, delivery workers tell customers
Delivery workers in Brazil, led by figures like Pedro Júnior, are pushing back against the demand for doorstep deliveries due to safety concerns and time constraints. This movement has gained traction on social media, particularly TikTok, and has led to protests and legislative efforts in cities like Fortaleza and Brasília. Companies like iFood and Rappi, which dominate the market, have policies that theoretically support the workers' stance, but enforcement is inconsistent. The Federal District Association for App Workers and Motorcyclists is actively involved in legal actions to protect delivery workers' rights, while local lawmakers consider bills to formalize these protections.
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Delivery riders are fighting each other over bike-shares in Brazil
Delivery riders in Brazil, particularly in cities like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, are experiencing conflicts over the use of bike-shares provided by the iFood Pedal program. The program, which allows riders to use the Tembici bike-share system, has led to a shortage of bikes, especially e-bikes, causing verbal and physical altercations among riders. Despite the benefits of shorter, more lucrative routes, riders face challenges such as poor bike maintenance and increased costs. Some riders have resorted to abusing the system to secure better routes.
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Uber hates this app that tells drivers whether it’s worth picking you up
In São Paulo, ride-hailing drivers like Luisa Pereira have increased their earnings by using the StopClub app, which provides a detailed fare breakdown, helping them choose more profitable rides. The app, which leverages Android's screen reader functionality, has grown significantly in Brazil, despite legal challenges from Uber. Uber Brazil's lawsuit against StopClub for allegedly storing confidential data and violating competition rights was dismissed, leading to widespread support for StopClub among drivers. The app's popularity surged following the court's decision, with drivers celebrating the victory and an online petition gaining significant traction.
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China’s AI boom depends on an army of exploited student interns
China's AI industry heavily relies on vocational school students working as data annotators. These students, part of the country's digital underclass, face low pay and limited future prospects, highlighting significant labor exploitation issues within the sector.
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Overworked and unable to quit: Delivery drivers in Brazil found something worse than gig work
Delivery drivers in Brazil, subcontracted by iFood through third-party companies, face excessive workloads and are unable to refuse work due to the fear of reprisals. These drivers, like Guilherme, work 12-14 hours daily without formal employment benefits. iFood's subcontracting model, involving companies such as CR Express, Dafi, MX Delivery, and Caetano Enterprise, ensures a consistent supply of workers but has been criticized for exploiting labor rights. Some drivers, feeling trapped, are filing lawsuits seeking recognition of their employment status to gain denied benefits.
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Who makes up the parliamentary front aligned with Big Tech
On May 16, 2023, Deputy Lafayette de Andrada presented a bill (PL 2582/2023) as an alternative to the controversial PL 2630/2020, which aims to regulate digital platforms but faces strong opposition in the Brazilian Congress. The new bill is seen as more lenient towards Big Tech, reflecting the interests of the Frente Digital, a parliamentary group closely linked to major technology companies. The Frente Digital, created in 2019, includes members from various political parties and is supported by the Instituto Cidadania Digital, which has ties to tech industry associations. The article highlights the potential conflicts of interest and lobbying activities of the Frente Digital and its associated organizations.
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U.S. Supreme Court Decision Gives Digital Platforms a Breather on Third-Party Content
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Twitter is not complicit in a terrorist attack in Turkey, impacting a similar case involving Google. The decision affects the interpretation of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields digital platforms from liability for third-party content. The ruling sends the Gonzalez vs. Google case back to an appeals court for reconsideration in light of this decision.
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An overview of journalism remuneration by platforms
The article discusses the controversial issue of journalism remuneration by digital platforms, focusing on the Brazilian bill PL 2630/2020, also known as the Fake News Bill. The Internet Steering Committee (CGI.br) published a study outlining five main controversies: criteria for beneficiaries, responsible payers, definition of journalistic content, data transparency, and the role of the state. The article also explores the proposal of a sectoral fund as an alternative to individual negotiations and compares international legislative efforts, particularly in Australia and the European Union. Key stakeholders include Google, Meta, and various Brazilian organizations such as Fenaj and Ajor.
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Allies of Big Techs present alternative bill to regulate networks
The parliamentary group Frente Digital, led by federal deputy Lafayette de Andrada, introduced an alternative to the PL 2630/2020, known as the Fake News Bill, which faces resistance from Big Tech. The alternative bill, PL 2582/2023, proposes the creation of the Brazilian System for the Defense of Freedom of Expression and Integrated Combat of Illegal Acts on the Internet (SBDL), which outlines rights and duties for internet service providers and users. It aims to prevent illegal censorship and discrimination, particularly from public authorities. The bill suggests a self-regulatory entity composed of the companies themselves to oversee compliance and impose sanctions. It also proposes the establishment of a non-deliberative multi-sectoral committee, the CDLE, linked to the Social Communication Council of Congress, to facilitate dialogue between the public sector, companies, and civil society.
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New Twitter CEO is NBC executive
Elon Musk has chosen Linda Yaccarino, President of Advertising and Global Partnerships at NBC Universal, to succeed him as CEO of Twitter. The appointment was first reported by the Washington Post based on anonymous sources and later confirmed by Musk on Twitter. Yaccarino will focus on the business side, while Musk will concentrate on product design and new technologies. The move is seen as an attempt to reassure advertisers who have been leaving Twitter due to changes Musk made to the platform's content moderation rules.
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PGR requests that the Supreme Federal Court investigate Google and Telegram
The Public Prosecutor's Office has requested the Supreme Federal Court to open an inquiry against Google and Telegram for their campaigns against Bill PL 2630/2020. The request was confirmed by the PGR's communication office. Google and Telegram used their platforms to publish content opposing the bill, with Telegram sending a message to Brazilian users claiming democracy was under attack and Google linking to an editorial against the bill on its homepage. The Supreme Federal Court ordered Telegram to delete the message and issue a retraction, which Telegram complied with, while Google was instructed to label its note as advertising.
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In the Chamber, opposition speaks louder in debate on PL 2630
Opposition members in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, particularly from the Partido Liberal, have dominated the debate against bill 2630/2020, overshadowing the government's more subdued defense. An analysis of 194 speeches revealed that 55% opposed the bill, while only 37% supported it. The bill aims to regulate digital platforms, a necessity seen by many, but its approval remains uncertain. Progressive voices have been more vocal on social media than in the Chamber, raising questions about their efforts. The debate's quality is challenged by the opposition's simplistic criticisms and the progressives' lack of familiarity with the topic, leading to superficial and sensationalist views.
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MPF gives Telegram 10 days to clarify message about Fake News Bill
The Brazilian Federal Public Ministry (MPF) has given Telegram 10 days to provide detailed information about a message sent to Brazilian users regarding the Fake News Bill (PL 2630/2020). The message, which claims that the bill could 'kill the modern internet' and potentially cause Telegram to cease operations in Brazil, has prompted the MPF to seek clarification on several points, including the terms of use that justify such a broadcast and whether the platform allows for counterarguments. The inquiry is part of an ongoing investigation into potential violations of fundamental rights by digital platforms.
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STF wants to advance in regulation with PL 2630 on hold
With the Fake News Bill (PL 2630/2020) on hold in the Chamber of Deputies, the Supreme Federal Court (STF) aims to advance regulation of social media networks. On May 5, 2023, STF Minister Dias Toffoli released for plenary judgment the action discussing the constitutionality of Article 19 of the Internet Civil Framework. The bill's rapporteur, Deputy Orlando Silva, withdrew it from the voting agenda, criticizing big tech companies' opposition. If the STF upholds Article 19, the current regime remains until Congress enacts new regulations. If overturned, platforms may proactively remove problematic content, impacting freedom of expression.
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As deadline passes, Brazil aims to seize unregistered guns
Brazil's new left-wing president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has initiated a gun control campaign requiring gun owners to register their firearms with the Federal Police. This move aims to reverse the pro-gun policies of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who significantly increased civilian gun ownership. Despite initial resistance and concerns about confiscation, many gun owners have complied with the new regulations. The Justice Ministry plans to propose further restrictions on gun and ammunition access. The campaign has revealed a significant number of unregistered guns, raising concerns about their potential diversion to criminal groups.
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As deadline passes, Brazil aims to seize unregistered guns
Brazil's new left-wing president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has mandated gun owners to register their firearms with the Federal Police, reversing the pro-gun policies of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Despite initial resistance, the registration effort has seen success, with over 939,154 guns registered. The Justice Ministry aims to investigate and potentially seize unregistered guns, many of which may have fallen into criminal hands. The move has faced opposition from pro-gun advocates and politicians, but some have reluctantly complied. The government plans to introduce new regulations for shooting clubs and gun shops to further control gun ownership.
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As deadline passes, Brazil aims to seize unregistered guns
Brazil's new left-wing president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has mandated gun owners to register their firearms with the Federal Police, reversing the pro-gun policies of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Despite initial resistance, many gun owners complied by the May 3 deadline, though over 6,000 restricted-use guns remain unregistered and are now targets for investigation. The Justice Ministry plans to propose new regulations to further control gun ownership. The article highlights the political divide on gun control, with right-wing politicians and gun advocates opposing the new measures.
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Telegram accuses Minister of Justice of lying about notification
Telegram accused Minister of Justice Flávio Dino of lying about the company's response to a notification from Senacon, stating that it responded within one business day. Telegram claims it was only notified on April 20 and responded on April 24, after a holiday and weekend. Senacon initiated an administrative process against Telegram for not meeting the deadline to report measures against hate speech and threats in schools. The app was blocked in Brazil on April 27 for not fully cooperating with an investigation into a school attack in Aracruz.
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Clickworkers are turning against each other
In Brazil, microworkers are increasingly excluding newcomers from online forums to protect their jobs and rates on platforms like Appen, Amazon Mechanical Turk, and UHRS. Veteran microworkers blame new participants for driving down pay rates and are preparing for a surge in AI-related tasks. Despite the competition, they remain hopeful about the future of AI work, which often requires language- and culture-specific knowledge. Projects that used to pay $10 an hour now offer $3.50, and some microworkers are defending Brazilian Portuguese tasks from non-native speakers to maintain quality. The global generative AI market is expected to grow significantly, suggesting a continued demand for microwork.
Work portfolio
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Live interviews for Morning Breakfast - ABC News Australia about the coronavirus situation in Brazil - May and July 2020
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Bolsonaro’s Pro-Gun Agenda May Become Law
The article discusses the potential long-term impact of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's gun policies, focusing on a controversial bill that aims to loosen gun control measures in Brazil. The bill, which is close to being voted on in the Federal Senate, could increase civilian firearm ownership and has been pushed forward by Bolsonaro's allies and pro-gun legislators. It seeks to build on Bolsonaro's presidential decrees by easing restrictions on gun ownership and oversight, and if passed, it could undermine the Disarmament Statute, a law that has regulated civilian gun ownership since 2003. The article also touches on the political implications of the bill, Bolsonaro's support base among gun owners, and the potential risks to public security, including the possibility of an insurrection similar to the U.S. Capitol riot. Experts express concerns about the bill's impact on crime-solving and the control of weapons and ammunition, as well as the influence of radical pro-gun groups in Brazil.
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Brazilians Are Buying Guns in Record Numbers With Barely Any Oversight
Gun purchases in Brazil nearly doubled in 2020, with weak controls and rising violent homicides. President Jair Bolsonaro's policies have encouraged firearm ownership, leading to a significant increase in registered guns. Despite a majority of Brazilians opposing gun ownership, a minority, primarily wealthy men from the south, are driving the surge. Experts express concern over the lack of tracking mechanisms and the potential for legal guns to enter the black market, exacerbating violent crime. Bolsonaro's stance contrasts sharply with previous disarmament efforts, and his measures have blurred the lines between sports shooting and self-defense gun ownership.
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